Real Reason Behind WWE’s Surprise Date For Major Show
This time it’s WWE taking the orders.
On December 14th WWE will bring back Saturday Night’s Main Event for the first time since 2008. The series of television specials was a huge hit for the company back in the 1980s and into the early 90s before coming to an end in late 1992.
The event was brought back in 2006, but as ratings tumbled and interest waned, they were scrapped for a second time two years later.
The first and only special in 2024 will be headlined by the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens, while Gunther will defend the World Heavyweight Title against Finn Balor. The company will also crown the first Women’s United States Champion, and Liv Morgan will put the Women’s Title on the line against Iyo Sky.
WWE Left With No Choice
When the specials were first announced it was confirmed they would take place every quarter, meaning another is on the way in January. Although there’s been no official announcement, reports suggest this special will take place on January 25th — just a week before the Royal Rumble.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that the January 25th date came from NBC, with WWE having no influence. This is despite the creative problems caused by running the special and the Rumble so close together.
“Yeah, it’d be January 25. So that date’s been out there for a while, but, you know, WWE did confirm it to me. So yeah, that’s the date. It’s the Saturday before the Royal Rumble. So they’re going to be doing Saturday Night’s Main Events from 8 to 10 on NBC.
And it’s going to be four times a year, which was from the original release. And I guess the idea is one every quarter at some point during a three-month period. So that’s the date NBC wanted. And, you know, people are going like, Why would you do it right before, you know, have to promote that and the Royal Rumble at the same time?
And it’s like the deal is that when they get the date from NBC, that is the date they run. They do not run NBC. NBC is the one who makes the choice. They’re the higher power in this, in this one.”
It’s been reported that Jesse Ventura and Jimmy Hart will both appear on Saturday Night’s Main Event when it returns on December 14th.
H/t to WrestlingNews.Co